Oil-distilling apparatus and method



Get. 25, 1927.

Filed April 2, v 192s 4 Sheets-Sheet $5 I 25 192 v net 7 E. c. DYARMETT OIL DISTILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2, 1926 t. m a m Edward C. Q'yarfmelif I atfozucw Patented Get. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. DYABMETT, OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO 1 0. K. HERNDON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

' OIL-DISTIL'LING APPARATUS AND METHOD.

Application filed April 2, 1926'. Serial No. 99,311.

The present invention relates to improve ments in methods of and apparatus for oil distillation, and more particularly to meth ods and apparatus for fractional distilla- 5 tion.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of fractional distillation which is extremely simple and may be practiced with a minimum amount of personal supervision and attendance.

A further object of the invention is to insure the elimination of entrained liquid from to thoroughly subject the oil in the still to heat in such a way that any vapors given off will entrain a minimum amount, if any, of the liquid.

With respect to the apparatus, objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus structure which may be conveniently operated, to provide meansfor maintaining auvtomatically a predetermined and constantlevel of oil in the still, such means preferably being eiiective, also, to heat the oil before its. introduction "into the still.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a compartment still heated by a single :turnace efiective to raise the oil in the several compartments-to different temperatures.

, In carrying out the method, the oil is heated in a still having a plurality of chambers arranged, preferably, over a single furnace, the oil being adapted to pass from one. com

partment to another, andbeing raised in each compartment to a predetermined temperature. The vapors are taken off from-each compartment 0r chamber, anddirected through 40 a dephlegmator inwhich the vapors and any entrained liquid ifollow a tortuous course.

The path through the dephlegmator is arranged so that it has upwardly and downwardly directed portions, the vapors and liquid passing more slowly or withlless velocity in the upwardly directed portions than in the downwardly directed portions. This is accomplished by providing a. series of alternate upwardly-and downwardly directed bafiies' arranged in. pairs with narrower ,soaces forming the. downwardly directed portions between the' -members ofv each pair than the spaces ionising the upwardly directed, portions which arebetween the separate pairs. This arrangement produces a relatively high velocity or rapid travel in sages between the separate pairs of baflies. The rapid downward and slow" upward movements cause any entrained liquid or unvaporized oil to be thrown out of the vapors as they travel through the tortuous course, and when the vapors leave the dephlegrnator for the condenser, they contain no entrained oil or liquid of any kind. vapors glven 01f at varlous'stages, and also Within the still, and preferably within every compartment, baffles are arrangedin such a position that the oil ftraviels not only from one compartment to the other, but also it has a movement at an angle to the longitudinal travel, and in which it circulates up wardly-ove'r a heated zone, and downwardly through that portion of the still less exposed to heat. This method of circulating the oil in its travel through each compartmentprevents the generating of large quantities of steam at a time, should any water he carried into the still with" the oil, and the small quantities of steam generated will-pass from the still without entraining substantial quantities of oil, if any at all;

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision-of a vessel into which the unvaporized oil is discharged and having an overflow at a fixed level adapted to maintain a desired oil level within the still. This vessel may be-used not only .to maintain a desired oil level in the still, but by conducting the. oil to the still therethrough in operative heating contact with the unvaporized oil, the

latter preliminarily heats the oil beiore its introduction into the still.

The above described features ofthe invention will-be made clearer byjadescription of the embodiments of the invention which are disclosedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

v Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 ISA} transverse section substantially on the line 3-3; of Figure 1.,

Figure 4; isa vertical longitudinal section through a modified form of-apparatus.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-- 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the di: motion of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on a 100\ degrees,

is interiorlydivided into a plurality of distilling compartments arranged in series,each compartment being provided with a suitable outlet for vapor generatedtherein, and the casing containing the series of distilling chambers or compartments being supported above the combustion chamber of a; single furnace 2.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the apparatusincludes but two distilling chambers or compart ments, 3, 4, the vapor outlets from which communicate, respectively, with domes, 5,6.

Preferably, the casing l is of the crosssectionalform shown so that the distilling compartments are of the so-called Wagon type. That is, the bottom of each compartment ofrnnvardly directed concavo-convex form, and the top of the casing is curved.

This form of distilling chamber permits the heavier portions of oil being treated to sink to the bottom "at the sides of the distilling chamber, while thelighter portions of oil are received on top of such lower, more highly heated, body. g

The two distilling compartments referred .to communicate through passages 7, 8, formed at the bottom and sidesof the intermediate partition 9, and, as shown, the combustion chamber of the furnace is separated from the bottom of the compartment or chamber 3 by a horizontal baflie or partition 10. This causes the flame and products of combustion to pass first to thespaee beneath the distilling compartment 4, or the last compartment of the series ifv more than two are employed, and then return over the top of the bafiie 10' to reach the outlet stack 11. Any suitable type "of furnace. may be employed, the one illustrated including illustrated at 12.

The relativeheat range ofeaeh Section or' relation to the "other compartmentsor distilling chambers. For example, with an apparatus of the form particularly illustratedp wherein it is assumed to be desirable toemploy temperatures n the compartment 3 ranging from 100' to 400 degrees, or through a range of 300, degrees while the tempera tures in the compartment 4 will vary, .,from 400 to 500 degrees on through a ran e of thecoinpartment 3 is three times aslong as theeompartimt I The number" of: distilling fcompartinents,;

a burner conventionally f (lensing apparatus furnace, it being possible, of course, to increase or decrease the heat supply by'suitable adjustment of the burner The oil to be treated is supplied to the upper portion of the compartment 3 through a pipe 13, the outlet end of which extends through the side wall of the'casing-l, and overa relatively shallow concave panor receptacle 14, extending transversely ofthe distilling chamber. This pan serves as a .supply nozzle for the inlet pipe, and the oil flows over the free edge 14; into the body of the chamber. Since the pan is atv all times substantially entirely full, the discharge will be in the form of a narrow stream extend- 'ing entirely across the chamber, and thus there is substantially an equal supply of oil for the opposite sides'of the chamber.

As the oil moves through the chamber 3 toward the compartment orchamber; 4, due ,to the irifeed pressure, the lighter portions or fractions will remain at the .top and the heavier portions settle to the sides and bottom of the compartment. The time required for the oil to pass through the compartment 3 is suflicient to insure that all the lighter fractions thereof willbe vaporized and driven off through the outlet within the dome 5, while the heavier fractions willpass through the openings or passages 7, 8, in the partition 9, into the second chamber or compartment 4. The ba e 15 is providedv in the second chamber so that the oil entering this ehai'nber is caused to rise and flow over the upper edge of the baflie onto the intu t-he dome 6, while any unva orized oil ill) ,asses therefrom throu ha l)6 6 to a ves- P a P l sellwhich will be hereinafter more particnllarly described. 7

Means is provided whereby the liquid entrained with the vapors passingthrough distilling compartmenbof the apparatus ispartially controlled by the length thereof in either. of the domes 5, and 6,is separated before thevapo'rsare conducted to a condenser (not shown). Preferably, this separating means or dephlegmator comprises a cylindrical casing 20, one end of which communicates through a pipe 21 with thevapor dome of. the distilling chamber and at the opposite end the casing is provided with an outlet pipe 22 leading to a suitable con- (not shown). The casing has positioned therein a series of alternatel arranged downwardly and upwardly projecting baffles 23. 24, which form atortue'us path having upwardly directed branches23 the vapors the downwardly extending and (lmvuwardly. extending branches 24. It will be observed that the upwardly extending branches or portions of the passage are considerably wider or of greater area than branches which results from the fact that the'pairs ot' baflies arespaced apart at greater distance than the individual members of each pair.

The purpose of this construction is to impart to the traveling vapors and any en-.

trained liquid an increased velocity as they travel downwardly; the rapid downward and relatively slow upward movements cause any entrained liquid or unvaporized oil en-' by the vapors to be thrown out of the same. It is thought that this result is effected principally at the points below cbafiie's where the vapors and entrained liquid having had their velocity increasedi'n'passing'through the narrow passages 24: substantially reverse their direction of travel; andthe centrifugal or whip-like action upon the vapors causes the liquid to'be separated therefrom; This action of the battles is, of

course, assisted by ,t-hefeii'ect of gravity, due 7 to the arrangement of the branches of the tortuous path in vertical planes, although, of course, the same eitect would be produced to a less extent if the branches were disposed in other than vertical planes. When leave the dephlegmator after having travelled therethrough, they contain no entrained oil or liquid of any kind.

One ormore openings 25 may be provided in the lower edge of each of the upwardly extending baflles 23 through which liquid separated fromthe gaseous portion of the vapor passing through the separator may return to the lower end of the separator casing 20, and, by way of a pipe '27, be re-v turnedtothe distilling chamber or compartin'ent.

I It will ,be understood that the separator casing 20 is inclined slightly so that any liquid collected therein will drain freely toward the pipe 27 and the distilling compartment in passing or chamber. To prevent gases vfrom passing through the openings 25, a small rib or dike 26 is provided iiiterior'ly on the bottom wall of the casing 24 adjacent each batlle 23,- said dikes or ribs acting to retain a small body of liquid over the openings 25, thus preventing the passage of gas therethrough without ma t'erially-obstructing the flow 0t separated liq- The relation of the battles 23 and 24E above referred to may, of course, be varied as desired, but very advantageous results have been eilected when said parts are so related that the downward movements of the vapors,

through the separator casing ogcupy about one-twelfth. of the distance that is provided for the upward movements the downwardly extending As before stated, the heated unvaporized oil iswfithdfawn from the last distilling coinpa'rtment of] the series through a pipe 16 which leads to a vessel 30. This vessel has an overflow 42 which is arranged substantally ina plane coinciding with that of the desired oil level in the still. This arrangement permits the vessel 30 to maintain automatically apredetermined level in all of the still compartments.

A further feature of the invention consists in constructing the compartmentBO so that it serves not only as means to maintain an oil level within the still, but 'also as a heat exchanger for the purpose'ot' imparting heat tothe crude oil before its introduction into the still; 7

To accomplish this, the vessel 30 may be divided ve' artitions 31, 32, the ,latter being joined with a cylindrical vertical partition 32'. Pipes 33 communicate with a portion 0f the casing 30 beneath the partition 31 and that'portion within the cylindrical wall 32. Crude oil may be introduced into the casing below the partition'31 from which it passes upwardly through the pipes33 into the upper chamberformed by the Wall 32.

A- screen or filter 7,35, arranged across the lower ends of the pipes 33 prevents any sedimentiin the crude oil frombeing conducted into separate chambers by trans to the still, and a drain 36 is provided for removal of such sediment. A main supply v 40 controlled cut-off valve 41; permits intiii'oduct-ion of the crude oil supplied to the sti. v--" It will be understood that the heated unvaporized oil delivered to the chamben30 of the combined level. control and heat exchanger is excluded by' means of the pipes 33 and partitions 31,32, from the supply of fresh oil-being conducted to 'tl iejstilhbut by circulating around the-pipes 38, it preliminarily heats the oil and may ,then pass through the overflow pipe aflfrom the ch'amher. As will'be observed, thepipe 155.com-

municates with the upper portion of the chamber formed by the walls 32, '32", and

there is also inconnection with this cham' ber a pipe 45 through which any vapor which maybe generated therein is conducted to the still compartment 3, whereby thepressure in the distilling apparatus and. the heat exchanger. is equalize thus the oil will floyv by-gr'avity" through the pipe 13, to the sti l.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 a'nd'ti, there is shown in theseyiews, a preferred form of apparatus for carrying out my improved method. a

In this prferredembodiment, the distill formed within a casing-"48i-by 'ineans of'a ingchambers or compartments 46, 47 areprovided longitudinally extending bafiles'56, the loweredges 57 of which are spaced from therein thronghwhich the oil unvaporized by-theheat in the compartment 46, may pass to the compartment 4'21 The casing has the same cross-sectional shape asthat-of Figures 1, 2and 3, with the Theco npartments may be heated'from a combustion chamber 50 arranged beneath a horizontally extending partition or baffle 51,.

which term-inateh at 52'approximately on a line with the rear end of the compartment, 46. The combustion chamber 50 is provided with any suitablesoureeof heat such as the burner 51, and, preferably, it is mounted for sliding movement beneath the bafile or partition 52, 80 that as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure t it may be moved lon itudina'lly to vary the point at; which t e products of combustion pass upwardly .andreverse their course to travel beneath the bottom of the still compartments to the stack 53. This construction causes-the flame and prodnets of combustion to space beneath the "secondary distilling compartment 47, or the last compartment of the series iii-more than two are. employed, and then'to return from the top of the battle 51 to reach the 'outlet stack. Adjustment of the combustion chamber 50 may vary the distance of travel of the products of combustion beneath the compartments, and also direct the latter against the rear wall of the-f casing for a purpose which will be later described. I I The oil .to be treatedis'supplied to the upper portion, of the first distilling compart-' ment 46 through apipe 54, the outlet end of'which extends through the side wallot the casing48, and over the relatively shallow concave pan 55. This pan extends transversely across the distilling chamber, and at,

substantially opposite sides of-the longitudinal intermediate portion of the arched bot.- tom has its forward edge cut away (Figure 7) soithat .theoil therein will flow over its forward wall in two separate streams, each of which is substantially coextensive with the cutaway portions 55. provided. primarily f0l-tl18 purpose of d1- Iiecting the oil downwardly only, at opposite sides of the arched bottom where there are the side walls to provide passages through which the oil will travel downwardly as ndicated bythe arrowsfFigure-n, war-flyover the heated arched bottom.

' longitudinally of each compartm ent due to [also as a heat exch vtition 61 through pipes 65.

The trough is therefrom through .partment of the sti .of, the .inyention and {upltswiil be understood thatthe oil. travelstially distinct circular streams around the baflles 56' That is tosay, the oil circulates not only longitudinally of thestill, but also upwardly-over the heated arched bottom be-,

tween the latter and the ba-files, and then downwardly outside the baflles through that portionof the still 'less exposed to heat.

-This method of-ciroulating the oil prevents .within which, as will be observed, the batfles 56 are arranged to function fiin the same Any oil unvaporized in the compartment passes through pipes 58 to" a vessel or chamber 59, or may, by means of a valve conmanner as'in the compartment trolled branch 60, be discharged from the pass first throughthe still without introduction;.into the chamber 59. The. vessel 59 has a partition'Gl and an overflow discharge opening 62,'which is arranged to control automatically the level, of oil within the still compartments. As will be understood, the level'of oil. within the stillcannot exceed the plane of the overflow discharge opening 62 which is arranged to control automaticallytheilevel of oil withint-hestill compartments;

This vessel may be constructed to serve anger as in thepreviously described embodiment of the invention.

v For this purpose, the vessel 59 is-divided .into several compartments by means of the partition 61,and an upper partition 63 formng, a cylindrical compartment 64. .The

chamber of the compartment 64 cominunicates with a-compartment 64'belowthepar v The oil for the still is introduced into chamber 64! throu 11 p pe 66-and will flow upwardly through t e L pipes 65,1which are surrounded by the heat-v ed unva prized-oil from the still; thus the freshoi supply is preliminarily heated before it reaches the chamber 64, "and passes lpipe ii t to the first com- It will be observed that inthe embodiment the casingjl) is immediately adjacent the rear end of the flue beneath the stilh so that the oomb ist oniwhic'h pass u Wardly at the rear end of the combustion c. ainber ma-v be dirented [inst the same tofassist the un vaporize oil :frojm thestill in preliminarily heating the fl es changer. As in the con" ruction pi'eviou sly .heat from'theproducts of ,oil sup ly in the heat exis substantially the same I described, a conduit vapors before they pass mator. Each dephlegmator comprises a subor pipe 69 may connect the upperen d of the chamber (i l with the initial compartment .of the still to equalize the pressure and permit the gravitational flow of .the'oil' through pipe 54- to the coin partment 46; and further," any sediment which is prevented frompassing upwardly by screen (37 'n compartment 64: may. drained therefrom by the drain pipe 68.

The vapors from the still compartments are, as in the embodiment of the invention first described, conducted through a 'de phleg'mator for the. purpose of separating therefrom any. entrained liquid. The dephlegmators are in the preferredembodiment,positioned within the stillcasmg so as to have maintained therein, ahigh degree of heat which will prevent condensation of any from the dephlegstantially cylindrical casing 70, having an inlet opening 71 adjacent the rear end of the compartment and an outlet 7 2 extending through, the topwall of the casing 48, this opening conducting vapors to a condenser (not shown). Within each dephl'egmator is positioned a series of, alternately arranged upwardly and downwardly extending battles 71, 7 2, respectively These battles are preferably inclined to; the vertical, instead of 'being arranged inexac't'verticalplanes as in the construction illustrated in Figure 3;

This inclination lengthens the tortuous path for the vapors and entrained liquid. As in the former construction, the baffles are arranged in distinct pairs forming downwardly extending branches 71 which are narrower or of less area than the upwardly extending branches 72", the arrangement serving to increase the velocity of the vapors and entrained vapors in their downward movements, and giving slower upward movements. The advantage of this construction as that pointed out with respect to thedephlegmator illustrated in Figure 3, but by positioning the dephlegmator within the still. compartment,

the'heat of the still prevents condensation of vapors before they pass from the dephlegmator, and, moreover, the inclination'of the baffles lengthens the path of the vapors within the casing 70.

Any liquid separated from the vapors within the dephlegmator of the first compartment iscarried off by means of short pipes 73 to a header 74, which, at one end, has a branch 75 (Fig. 5) extending through the wall of the casing, and from which the oil may be'either returned to the still compartment 416 for further distillation through a valve-controlled'branch 76,'-or withdrawn through a'valve-controlled pipe 77. The of the final com dephlegmator 'casing partment 47 has leadingtherefrom adjacent each of the upwardly extending battles 71,

a liquid discharge pipe 78, each pipe being laterally? and 6) so that the liquid will be discharged below the level ofthe oil in the chamber andwill, with the oil above and outside the baffle plates 5 6,'pass downwardly and then up.- wa-rdly inside the baiile over the arched heated bottom of the compartment It will be'understood, of course, that numerous modifications may be made in the structures illustrated and described without departing from the invention.

"Although the still,"as shown, is mounted upon a fixed base, it is of very light and compact construction, particularly that form illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, andhence may .be readily applied to a portable or wheeled base, whichfof course, is within the scope of the'inyention.

I claimz 1. In a dephlegmator for removing endownwardly directed (Figure trained liquid from hydrocarbon vapors, a v

downwardly directed portions, said baflles being arranged to vary intermittently the velocity of the vapor'and liquid and being .inclined'with respectto said casing whereby to provide an extended course in the casing.

2. In a deph'legmator for removing entrained liquid from hydrocarbon vapors, a casing, and a plurality of alternately arranged upwardly and downwardly extending baflles in saidcasing forming a tortuous course having successive upwardly and downwardly directed portions, said baflles being arranged to impart to the vapors and entrained liquid relatively rapid downward and relatively slow upward movements through said course, the upwardly extending baflles being inclined forwardly and the downwardly eatending balilesbeing inclined rearwardly in said casing whereby to pro: vide an elongated course;

ing battles in said casing forming a tortuous course having successive upwardly and downwardly directed portions, said baffles being arranged in spated pairs the spaces between the separate pairsbeing longer than "the spaces between the individual members of each pair,'and the pairs of bafilesdaeiug 3. In a dephlegmator for removing eninclined with respect tothe casing whereby to provide an'elongated course.

4. In an oil distilling apparatus, the com Vbination of a distillingchamber having an I outlet for vapor generated therein, means for heating saidchamben, means for supply ing oil to be treated to'said chamber, means for conducting urwaporized oil from said chamber, means for separating the liquid nected with the distilling chamber and POSX- 5 tioned therein, said casing being provided interiorly with means for causing the vapor passing therethrough to travel in atortuous path having upwardly and downwardly directed portions with the downwardly di- 1 rected, portions of less area than the upwhereby to remove.

wardly directed portions,

the liquid from the vapor.

n -5. In an oil distilling apparatus, the com v bination of a distilling c amber having an 15 outlet for vaporgenerated therein,-ineans for heating sa id chamber, means for supplyv ing oil to be treated to"saidchamber means for conductingnnvaporized oil from said chamber, means for separating the liquid and 20 gaseous parts of vapor generated in the distilling cha her comprising a casing. connected with the distilling chamber and ,positioned therein, a series of alternately arranged downwardly andv upwardly. extend 25 ing baffles within said casing compelling the vapor passingthrough the casing to travel in a tortuous path, the downwardly directed portionsof which are of'less length thanthe upwardly directed portions, whereby i to re- 9 move theliquid from thevapor, said up? wardly extending baflles being inclined forwardly in thelcasing and the downwardly extending battles being inclined rearwardiy whereby to provide an elongated path.

6(In an oil distilling apparatus, the combination of a distillin'gchamber having an outlet for vapor generated therein, means for heating said chamber, means for supplying oil to be treated to said chamber, means for conducting unvaporized oil from said chamber, means for separating the liquid and gaseous parts of vapor generated in the distilling chamber comprising a casing connected with the distilling chamber and positioned therein, a series of alternatelyf arranged downwardly and upwardly extending baffles within sai casing compelling the vapor passing through the casingto travel in atortuous path having upwardly and downwardly extending branches, the upwardly extending branches being of greater area than the downwardly extending ones said upwardly extending baffles being inelined'for wardlvin the casing and. the downwardly extending battles being inclined ,rearwardly whereby to. provide an elongated path;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto at 

